A SHORT DISCOURSE CONCERNING _Pestilential Contagion_, AND THE METHODS To be used to Prevent it. By _RICHARD MEAD_, M.D. Fellow of the College of Physicians and of the Royal Society. [Illustration] _LONDON_: Printed for _Sam. Buckley_ in _Amen-Corner_, and _Ralph Smith_ at the _Royal-Exchange_, 1720. [Illustration] TO THE Right Honourable _James Craggs_, Esq; ONE OF His Majesties principal Secretaries of State. _SIR_, I _Most humbly offer to You my Thoughts concerning the_ Prevention of the Plague, _which I have put together_ _by your Command. As soon as you was pleased to signify to me, in his_ Majestie's _Absence; that their Excellencies the_ Lords Justices _thought it necessary for the Publick Safety, upon the Account of the_ Sickness _now in_ France, _that proper Directions should be drawn up to defend our selves from such a Calamity; I most readily undertook the Task, though upon short Warning, and with little Leisure: I have therefore rather put down the_ principal Heads of Caution, _than a_ Set of Directions in Form. The first, _which relate to_ the performing Quarentines, _&c. You, who are perfectly versed in the History of_ Europe, _will see are agreable to what is practised in other Countries, with some new Regulations_. The next, _concerning the_ suppressing Infection here, _are very different from the Methods taken in former Times among_ Us, _and from what they commonly Do_ Abroad: _But, I persuade my self, will be found agreable to Reason_. _I most heartily wish, that the wise Measures, the_ Government _has already taken, and will continue to take, with Regard to the_ former _of_ these, _may make the_ Rules _about the_ latter _unnecessary: However it is fit, we should be always provided with proper_ Means of Defence _against so terrible an_ Enemy. _May this short_ Essay _be received as one Instance, among many others, of the Care, you always shew for Your Country; and as a_ _Testimony of the great Esteem and Respect, with which I have the Honour to be,_ SIR, Your most obedient, Most humble Servant, Novemb. 25. 1720. R. MEAD. [Illustration] PART I. OF THE NATURE OF _CONTAGION_.